Immediate support
Immediate support

Young people

A space for people aged 12-25 to discuss life. If you’re over 25, please be mindful that this is a space for younger people to connect.

Start a discussion

FAQ

Find answers to some of the more frequently asked questions on the Forums.

View the FAQ

Forums guidelines

Our guidelines keep the Forums a safe place for people to share and learn information.

View the guidelines
Categories
Start a discussion

Pinned discussions

Sophie_M How are you feeling about the social media restrictions in Australia for under 16s?
  • replies: 14

Hey everyone With the upcoming Australian social media restriction for under 16-year-olds coming up we want to know what this means for you and maybe even the young people in your life. This conversation is a place for all of us to share how we are f... View more

Hey everyone With the upcoming Australian social media restriction for under 16-year-olds coming up we want to know what this means for you and maybe even the young people in your life. This conversation is a place for all of us to share how we are feeling and what we think the challenges and benefits might be for you or the wonderful young people in our community. Have you thought about how to stay connected with friends you’ve met online? Are you focused mostly on the positives, or the negatives? What do your parents think, and what could they do to support you? Importantly the Beyond Blue Forums are not impacted by these restrictions, we're here for anyone under 16. In short, from December 10 Social Media companies will need to ensure that only people over 16 actively engage with their platforms. There is a lot of information out there which can make it tricky to know what to expect on when it comes into effect. To learn more we think these are a helpful place to start eSafety commissioner + Headspace FAQs. We know this change will impact some more than others, QLife provide anonymous and free LGBTIQ+ support and 13YARN are here for all Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people. We want to hear your thoughts on how this might impact the mental health of under 16s in both a positive and negative way. The Beyond Blue Forums are a place for constructive and helpful conversation and the regular moderation rules apply which means we look forward to a kind and understanding discussion. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings Sophie M

BeyondBlue New to this Forum? Please read this first!
  • replies: 0

Hey there! Welcome to the Young People section of the Beyond Blue Forums. The purpose of this section is to provide members aged 25 and under a space to discuss life issues, tricky situations and the difficult emotions and feelings that come with tho... View more

Hey there! Welcome to the Young People section of the Beyond Blue Forums. The purpose of this section is to provide members aged 25 and under a space to discuss life issues, tricky situations and the difficult emotions and feelings that come with those. If you are aged over 25, please be mindful that this is a space for younger people to connect and provide support for each other. These forums are moderated, so your posts may not appear straight away. Information on moderation on the Forums can be found here. Being familiar with our Community Guidelines can help ensure that your posts appear online as quickly as possible. If we have concerns about your wellbeing, one of our friendly moderators will check in with you privately to make sure you get the support you need. If you need more immediate support, we recommend reaching out to the following: Beyond Blue Support Service – any time, chat online to a counsellor or call 1300 22 4636 Headspace – between 9am and 1am (AEST), chat online to a mental health clinician or call 1800 650 890 Kids Helpline – any time, chat online to a counsellor or call 1800 55 1800 Thank you for being here. We’re glad you’ve found us here and hope this can be a supportive space for you Beyond Blue

All discussions

Start a discussion

Broncies_18 Getting too worked up
  • replies: 2

So does anyone here have the feeling that you have stuffed up somehow and get so worked up about it that you worry some much you can’t stop thinking about it. For me I work in food and was doing a lot of packaging and even though I did it the way eve... View more

So does anyone here have the feeling that you have stuffed up somehow and get so worked up about it that you worry some much you can’t stop thinking about it. For me I work in food and was doing a lot of packaging and even though I did it the way everyone else did it to an extent and I’m stressing that I did it wrong somehow and now I can’t really stop thinking about it. Cheers for any advice would be greatly appreciated

AshLo Where to start.
  • replies: 2

It's a never ending cycle really. I'm fairly young, and I love my parents. My mum was in a rather large accident a few years ago so I get separation anxiety when going to sleep at friends houses and leaving my mum home, not knowing if she is safe. Ho... View more

It's a never ending cycle really. I'm fairly young, and I love my parents. My mum was in a rather large accident a few years ago so I get separation anxiety when going to sleep at friends houses and leaving my mum home, not knowing if she is safe. However, my mum is constantly putting me down. "You didn't do this right" Why didn't you do this " Why did you say this " and she jumps ahead like I would say something nasty but I wouldn't. Things like "don't tell your friends yo purchased an expensive dress" like she knows I'd never do this? My "best friend" (no longer.. I think) is always rude to me. I'll make a joke and she will tell me to stop being annoying, but someone else will make it and she will laugh. I don't have many people to speak to, who will just tell me to "stop being so dramatic" almost every time i break down in tears I can plan exactly what my mum says. It's always the same. and I'm just in this loop. there is more, but idk.

Belle_Rey19 Help! Conflict with deferring Uni or continuing Uni...
  • replies: 2

Hi, I posted on here a while a back about how I was unsure about if I should go to University. I have been at Uni now for 4 weeks and that unsure feeling hasn't gone away. Every time I'm at the campus, I feel as though I'm making a wrong decision but... View more

Hi, I posted on here a while a back about how I was unsure about if I should go to University. I have been at Uni now for 4 weeks and that unsure feeling hasn't gone away. Every time I'm at the campus, I feel as though I'm making a wrong decision but I am unsure why. The subjects I am studying are creative writing and theater because being an actress and a novelist is something that I 100% want to do with my life even though I understand that it isn't guaranteed to be a full time employment. I just really want to try to achieve both of these whether it is part time or full time I don't mind, but choosing the right way to go about it is so stressful. I am also in a Spanish course so I can learn to speak to my grandma and Spanish family but maybe I can just teach myself? idk... The census date is coming up and I am now thinking that I should defer Uni for a year just to clear my head and work things out before committing. I feel like studying to be a writer and an actress isn't worth the money I would be in debt with at university as opposed to finding a part time job for the first time, going to tafe and taking private or cheaper acting courses on the side as well as writing my own material or attending writing work shops instead of going to uni. I am extremely shy, introverted and a sensitive 19 year old person with social anxiety and a little depression. I'm just so stuck because I am still unsure with what side I should pick. I don't want to fail or lose my chance of being an actress and novelist just because I didn't go to uni and I don't want to feel inferior or like I'v disappointed anybody. I know my dad is going to be upset and my grandma will be disappointed. Deciding on the future and all this, it's just so overwhelming and stressful and lonely and I feel like I'm being torn a part Am I making any sense? Sorry if I'm not, I can explain it better.

mehhh Struggling with Anger and Sadness
  • replies: 1

I've been struggling with trying to control my anger for a long, long time now and it's effecting my relationship as I lash out at random times for no apparent reason. I become filled with anger and cannot control what I say or do, I have no idea why... View more

I've been struggling with trying to control my anger for a long, long time now and it's effecting my relationship as I lash out at random times for no apparent reason. I become filled with anger and cannot control what I say or do, I have no idea why I get so angry and I always regret what I say or do. Sometimes, I get so mad and just punch things or hurt myself in another way. I constantly say horrible things to my partner when I do get into this mood and it's really not okay. After I have my massive rush of anger, I feel really really sad and I have no idea why. This combination happens constantly and I don't know what to do because I don't have the courage to speak to my GP and definitely not my mum. I talk to my girlfriend about it sometimes but that's the only time I ever actually talk about it.

Terminator_chick Mum acting to me like everything is my fault
  • replies: 26

So this has been going on and off for a few days now, I've had 4 marjor brain surgeries it affects my life a lot, my mum gave up her career to look after me and sometimes she says I gave up my career for you she says it like it's my fault, she's been... View more

So this has been going on and off for a few days now, I've had 4 marjor brain surgeries it affects my life a lot, my mum gave up her career to look after me and sometimes she says I gave up my career for you she says it like it's my fault, she's been calling me a bitch for no reason, she's been very mad at me for no reason it's just her behaviour, when she has an argument with me she always finds a way to win and finds ways to put me down a lot. This is getting to a point now where I'm just gonna lose it and just run away, she's been treating me like shit lately and I don't know what's going on in her life but I hate it when she takes it out on me. I feel like such a burden to her :,(

SteelinMyLegs Why am I always so sad
  • replies: 5

Hey I am 15 years old and in year 10 at the moment and I can't find any happiness or joy in life, wherever I am, I always feel so dull and alone and everything I see or think about just makes me more depressed. I used to be a really sporty and active... View more

Hey I am 15 years old and in year 10 at the moment and I can't find any happiness or joy in life, wherever I am, I always feel so dull and alone and everything I see or think about just makes me more depressed. I used to be a really sporty and active person but I had surgery on both my legs (femoral derotation osteotomy) and it limited a lot of what I can do even when I am seven months into recovery, I sometimes feel the old pain I had the surgery to remove and it only lowers my outlook on life more. Most of the time I wonder what really is my purpose in life, I feel like nothing, most of the time helpless, and I just want all my problems to leave me alone, I did have severe depression in the early stages of my surgery but I got rid of it for a little while, but it keeps coming back. I have moved schools this year because I was having difficulty at my old one, and I have made new friends but I can never find happiness being around them, most of the time I want to isolate myself and be alone and not talk to anyone, even when they are nice and inviting to me. I feel like I always have to put up a wall to hide my feelings inside, I always have to smile and be happy, when really I want to run away and cry. School, I feel is a miserable place for me, it gives me anxiety with assignments and puts pressure on me to be friendly and make friends. The only things that help relieve me from the sadness is consuming myself with tv shows and writing long assignments, because I become so focused on them I forget about everything else, but when I finish everything just hits me again and it gets really overwhelming.

iwantedapuppy Getting Angry or sad too much, too often.
  • replies: 6

Hi. I wanted to know if anyone else gets really angry or sad for no reason, just out of the blue? I am 19 and living with my boyfriend and it just seems to be a constant pattern for me. For a few days I am quite fine, maybe feel a little unsure or co... View more

Hi. I wanted to know if anyone else gets really angry or sad for no reason, just out of the blue? I am 19 and living with my boyfriend and it just seems to be a constant pattern for me. For a few days I am quite fine, maybe feel a little unsure or comfortable with something, but nothing bad. Then out of no where I'll be crying or fighting over something small. Just today I got angry at my boyfriend for him somehow losing his myki on the tram. I felt annoyed that he has lost it again as he's replaced it at least ten times, and because of this always has to carry around a spare myki. I don't know why I got so annoyed by it though, even though I don't want him to get a fine and all, it really shouldn't be a big deal. It felt so bad arguing with him about it. I feel like I am always having to apologise to him. I use to be really sad all the time and because of this no one wanted to be around me except him. I don't know how to control it. I almost feel like I am possessed or something when I get this outburst of sadness or anger. My boyfriend is really kind and has been there for me through all my issues and I love him very much but I just seem to get too emotional sometimes. I went through some really bad stuff in Grade 12 and I feel like I still haven't forgiven my parents for what they did. I feel those events have a lot to do with me getting upset over little things not going my way. I hated my life so much in grade 12 due to having no real friends, being bullied, parents divorcing, domestic violence, my mum's horrid boyfriend moving in... just a few to list. It was so bad I had to move out as soon as school finished. I do now talk to my parents and sometimes we visit each other, but I still feel hurt. It's not something I can bring up because when I have it just upsets them. I randomly will have a flash back of an event and then it's just really hard to shake off. Like sometimes I won't be able to sleep properly because my brain is too busy worrying about what happened at my school formal (my 'friend' ripped my dress, ditched me and a few other things I don't want to talk about). But yeah just stuff like that somehow just decides to randomly pop up throughout the day. Doesn't help with my university studies now either. I just want to be happy and not angry or sad randomly. It just hurts me and my boyfriend. I don't want to keep being like this or go back to what I use to be like. I just want to know if anyone has any tips on moving forward? Thanks.

Lolue Feeling Pressured
  • replies: 8

Hi, I have been seeing a psychologist and a doctor to help both my mental and physical health. I'm currently underweight I get weighed by both my psychologist and doctor. I get weekly blood tests to check everything. I was previously going to headspa... View more

Hi, I have been seeing a psychologist and a doctor to help both my mental and physical health. I'm currently underweight I get weighed by both my psychologist and doctor. I get weekly blood tests to check everything. I was previously going to headspace to see a psychologist but they didn't think things were working out so sent me to a specialist service. I still see the doctor at headspace who has been amazing. I was told today by my new psychologist who I like a lot better than my last psychologist that if things don't work out that I could be refered on to a another place but will be in the private health system and the adult system. I feel like there's so much pressure now to be gaining weight so that I don' get put in a hospital ward or don't get refered on to yet another place. It's already hard with work having to constantly take time off work to go to all these appointments and trying to set up my schedule to get consistency. Im also going on a trip overseas in may for my birthday if I get placed in a ward (which can be done against my will) Ill be forced to cancel my trip and pay cancellation fees. I want to get better but feel there' so much pressure. *please note:before replying I do not have a eating disorder and my pyschologist does not think I have one. It' more from neglect, poor diet and depression.

happycarrot I'm a loser and I don't know how to change.
  • replies: 4

Hi all, I'm pretty new here and this is my first post so its lovely to meet you sorry for such a self-flagellating title just trying to be honest. I'm a 20 year old University student studying music. I find myself really unhappy with myself. This bec... View more

Hi all, I'm pretty new here and this is my first post so its lovely to meet you sorry for such a self-flagellating title just trying to be honest. I'm a 20 year old University student studying music. I find myself really unhappy with myself. This became super obvious when my father sat me down and made me aware of all the things that I was letting fly under the radar. namely, how overweight I am, how I don't have a real job, I run an unsuccessful business, I don't manage my time well, don't really have any friends. all these things. (also no one knows this but me but I'm a compulsive liar) also It might be a separate problem but in my head at least its much of the same, but allot of people tell me I'm a horrible person (my ex's friends and stuff) I try really hard not to be horrid, but its kind of a situation of "if everyone else seems crazy then you're the crazy one" sort of thing. so I accept that maybe I'm a bad person but I find it hard to pin down the reasons why and harder again to change them. I find myself incapacitated by disappointment in myself these last few weeks. unable to get myself out of bed or do anything, consumed by self hatred. so I thought i'd ask the advice of you guys, maybe there's someone who's gone through a profound change? How do I change? How do I become someone I can be happy with? How do I put up with myself in the meantime? Some of these changes seem nigh impossible and there's so many of them, its very disheartening I don't know if I can put up with myself for much longer (sorry again for being so melodramatic) thanks for any advice

IshaX Workplace Bullying - How to cope when your CEO is bullying you? *Trigger Warning - bullying/rape/harassment *
  • replies: 2

I work for a not for profit - only 14 staff in total. Since commencing in 2017 I've been bullied constantly by a group of colleagues (4 who all work together in one department) & the CEO. They've left me out of work events & important decisions that ... View more

I work for a not for profit - only 14 staff in total. Since commencing in 2017 I've been bullied constantly by a group of colleagues (4 who all work together in one department) & the CEO. They've left me out of work events & important decisions that grossly affect my job; blatantly ignored me at work; verbally abused me when I don't do what they want and constantly dump their work to me but when I try to be assertive & say I need to prioritise my own work they say I'm not a team player. After several weeks of working 14 -16 hours days, 7 days a week (rather than my contractual 7.5 hr/5 day week) I tried speaking to the CEO in face-to-face meetings. As I want to make sure the issues I raise are addressed, I always follow meetings up with emails but the CEO has told me that I'm being incredibly rude by putting things discussed in meetings in follow-up emails even though they are work related. I have told her that I feel this is best practice as issues can then be referred to & better actioned in future but she says she doesn't want anything in writing & because she's been in "senior positions for much longer than (I) have" she is a better judge of what is best and her ruling is that: "issues in the workplace should always be kept off paper". Additionally, 3 weeks after commencing employment, one of my co-workers (who has continued to bully me severely every day, for what has now been nearly a year) waited until I was alone in the office before yelling at me & saying that there were no issues with the way things are being run and that I was/am "the problem" with the workplace. I record the time/dates and all bullying incidents. Yet despite me having another senior colleague raise the bullying issue with my CEO & personally raising the same issues in a separate meeting that I was begrudgingly dragged into (because the same bully was trying to undermine my work yet again), the CEO has said I need to accept that the person is just "abrupt", that there is no bullying & I'm the one who needs to change my attitude to be more of a team player. My CEO has not only ignored multiple bullying incidents I've experienced but also forced me to work on a project with someone who raped me - despite my 2 regular doctors & psychiatrist writing letters stating I was to have nothing to do with the project. Am feeling so hopeless as I need my job to live but the constantly bullying is pervading into & destroying every aspect of my life. I really need advice &/or support.